WO2015059420A1

WO2015059420A1 - Multipoint broadcast method

Info

Publication number: WO2015059420A1
Application number: PCT/FR2014/052705
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christophe CARNIEL; Daniel DEDISSE; Pierre KEIFLIN
Original assignee: Vogo
Priority date: 2013-10-23
Filing date: 2014-10-23
Publication date: 2015-04-30
Also published as: CA2927415A1; CN105637889A; JP2016538798A; IL245179A0; AU2014338814A1; EP3061259A1; MX2016005195A; KR20160074646A; HK1223468A1; RU2016116323A; US20160255375A1; FR3012279A1; FR3012279B1; SG11201603161QA

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for broadcasting a video stream (3), in which separate video sequences are simultaneously and continuously captured and converted on the fly into digital video data streams (3), said streams (3) are continuously transmitted in multipoint mode from a transmitter to at least two remote portable personal terminals (6) of a user (7), via a telecommunication network (8), and then said streams (3) are received at each terminal (6) and an interface (9) to control the broadcast thereof is displayed. Said method is characterised in that said interface (9) allows each user (7) to select one and/or the other of said video sequences in order to view same on the terminal (6) of the user, as well as to control the broadcast by scrolling at real speed, or by modifying the scrolling speed, and/or by choosing the scrolling direction, and/or choosing a specific time of said sequence.

Description

MULTIPOINT DIFFUSION METHOD

The present invention is in the field of communications and digital data transmission.

The invention particularly relates to a method of broadcasting digital data at least of the video type, preferably audio and video.

Such a method will find a particular application, but in no way limiting, in the capture, transmission and broadcasting of video data during events, in particular sports or music, locally on site within a sports or cultural venue, within the place where the events take place, intended for spectators. The invention is also likely to find an application during congress type events, during a presentation, a conference, a speech or any oratory scene. In known manner, during an event, for example a sports event taking place in a stadium, the broadcast of video captured in real time is via one or more giant screens which is equipped with said place, even monitors present in different places of the place, as in the boxes. Such screens allow the simultaneous transmission, as well as deferred, of a single sequence at a time, the choice and display on this screen of the sequence being controlled by an operator in a control room, dedicated to the video.

Such a system requires the implementation of a dedicated infrastructure, internal to the place, expensive and complex to manage, which does not leave the choice to the viewer as to the sequences that are broadcast.

An existing solution for transmitting a data stream is described in document US 2003/058866. This solution consists of a transmission system of remote data, for conventionally transmitting data over a network, between two terminals.

Such a solution is not intended to optimize such a transfer within a particular enclosure, localized, within the meaning of the present invention, as is the case during sports or music events. This technology does not take into consideration the rights attached to the transmitted content, by limiting their storage time on the terminal.

The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the state of the art, proposing to simultaneously broadcast several different video sequences directly to users, namely the viewers, at their personal terminal, preferably their cell phone or their tablet. To do this, the invention uses an existing telecommunication network, wireless type, including wireless, especially the mobile network. Thus, the invention makes it possible to simplify the infrastructure to be implanted within the place where the event takes place.

In addition, the invention provides a software application, equipping each terminal of a user, allowing the latter to manage the broadcast of one and / or the other of said sequences. Each user can then choose to review a specific moment of the event already elapsed, according to different angles of views.

In addition, such an application makes it possible to control the broadcasting of each sequence to allow the user to perform, in particular, a slowing down of said moment, or else other actions on the sequence he has selected.

For this purpose, the present invention relates to a method for broadcasting digital data streams at least of the video type, in which:

a simultaneous and continuous capture of at least two distinct video sequences is carried out and they are converted progressively into at least two streams (3) of at least digital data of the video type; said digital streams (3) are continuously and multipoint transmitted from at least one transmitting terminal (5) to at least two portable terminals (6) located at a distance, each terminal (6) being personal to a user ( 7) via a telecommunication network (8);

at each terminal (6), said streams (3) are received and an interface (9) for controlling their diffusion is displayed.

Such a method is characterized by the fact that:

said interface (9) allows each user (7) to select one and / or the other of said video sequences for viewing at his / her terminal (6), as well as to control the broadcasting of said viewing by scrolling at real speed, or by stopping, slowing down, accelerating the scrolling speed, and / or by choosing the direction of scrolling, and / or choosing a moment of said sequence

and by the fact that it consists of:

temporarily storing each stream (3) in a circular buffer (14) at the internal memory of each terminal (6); and

continuously deleting each stream stored in said buffer after a given time interval with respect to a defined duration for each video sequence, said time interval corresponding to a duration of several minutes to several tens of minutes.

In addition, according to other additional, nonlimiting features, such a method may consist in eliminating continuously in time each flow stored in said buffer after a time interval determined with respect to a duration defined for each sequence video.

In addition, said time interval may correspond to a duration of 10 to 20 minutes.

Thus, the invention technically makes it possible to manage the rights linked to the broadcasting of the data captured during the event, ensuring their suppression. Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments of the invention, with reference to the appended figure, schematically showing an example of the principle of the architecture of a mode. of operation of the diffusion method according to the invention.

The present invention relates to the broadcasting of digital data.

Such distribution is done in the context of events, especially sports. Preferably, this broadcast can take place within a sports enclosure or around a field 1, intended to receive spectators who come to watch and / or participate in this event.

Such digital data can at least be of the video type. This video data may also be coupled with audio-type sound data and / or photographic data, i.e. still images.

Said video data comes from a capture consisting of video footage acquisition. Such an acquisition can be carried out by suitable means of video capture, in particular cameras 2, or even concerning the photos of the adapted devices.

In the example shown, several cameras 2, arranged at different locations in the sports enclosure, especially around the terrain 1, each perform an acquisition of a particular sequence, according to a specific angle. All these acquisitions then constitute said capture that wants to be simultaneous and continuous. According to the example, three different video sequences are acquired, but the invention provides for a simultaneous and continuous capture of at least two distinct video sequences, namely from two different cameras 2 and therefore according to two angles of view different. More video captures can be made, depending on the means deployed for this purpose, in particular the number of cameras 2.

In addition, the sequences are converted as and when in at least two streams 3 of at least digital data of the video type. A possible conversion 4 may consist of a data compression step, in order to optimize their transmission through a network. This compression can be performed in real time through an audio / video encoder type system, so as to transform each stream 3 into an encoded stream.

Other conversions 4 are possible, consisting of processing said data, in particular the insertion of self-correcting codes in order to mitigate the transmission errors on wireless networks. Such processing can be carried out partly directly at the levels of the cameras 2 or partly at a remote centralized point, such as within a control room.

Next, the invention provides for continuously transmitting said digital streams 3 from at least one transmission terminal 5 to at least two portable terminals 6, located at a distance, each terminal being personal to a user 7. The latter is preferably a spectator come to attend the event, located within the sports grounds where the event takes place, especially in the stadium 1 or around the field, especially in the stands or stands.

In addition, this transmission step is performed via a telecommunications network 8. For the purposes of the present invention, said network 8 is a wireless wireless network. Preferably, such a network can be dedicated to mobile telephony. Therefore, said terminal 6 is constituted by a receiver able to connect to such a telephony network 8, preferably a cell phone type "smartphone" (for "smart phone"), or a tablet.

According to an alternative embodiment, depending on the location of the event, another type of network may be used, including a wireless local area network, such as

"Ifi" or "WiMAX".

In particular, the invention provides for transmitting said streams 3 by means of a "multicast" transmission technology, or "multipoint" transmission or

" of group ". This type of broadcast involves a single transmitter, in the form of said transmitting terminal, sending at least one signal 13 to several receivers, namely the terminals 6. In short, it is a communication "point to multipoints ". In particular, each stream 3 can be converted into a signal 13 of its own. There are then as many signals 13 as flows 3.

Preferably, the invention involves a technology of the "Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services" (MBMS) type of fourth generation mobile telephony networks (4G / LTE for "Long Term Evolution").

After sending streams 3, they are received at said terminal 6 and an interface 9 is displayed for controlling their broadcast.

Such an interface 9 may consist of a software application, embedded in said terminal 6 and dedicated. In particular, said application can be previously installed and executed from the memory of said terminal 6.

In particular, the execution of said application can initiate a client request within the multicast communication system mentioned above. A step of identification and / or authentication of the user 7 may be necessary, for example in connection with a subscription to a service, including a pay service, in order to obtain the reception of said streams 3 and the viewing of said services. sequences.

In addition, said application makes it possible, on the one hand, to manage the reception of streams 3, in particular to convert them in order to broadcast the sequences to which they correspond. It is then the display means of the terminal 6, namely its screen 10, which makes it possible to view said sequences after conversion of the flow 3.

A simple conversion is only to directly read the encoded stream. In short, a portion of the software application is able to transcribe and read the encoded stream, without further processing, preferably continuously as and when received.

A possible conversion may consist of a decoding of the stream, in particular in real time.

Another type of conversion may consist in the correction of the data packets of the streams 3, in particular in case of absence or error concerning certain packets.

On the other hand, the application allows the user 7 to choose the reading mode of one or more of the video sequences corresponding to said stream 3 received. To do this, said screen 10 may be provided touch, while the interface 9 has selectable elements, such as icons or buttons, constituting means for controlling the diffusion of one or more sequences.

As such, the invention is characterized in that said interface 9 allows said user 7 to select one and / or the other of said video sequences for viewing at said terminal 6. To do this, said interface 9 includes a first menu 11 for selecting the sequence that the user 7 wishes to view. In the example shown, it is the last sequence that has been selected for viewing on the screen 10 of said terminal 6.

In addition, the interface 9 also makes it possible to control the broadcasting of said viewing by scrolling at real speed, or by stopping, slowing, acceleration of the scrolling speed, and / or by choice of the scroll direction, and / or choice of a moment of said sequence. In other words, a second menu 12 makes it possible to control all the aspects of the reading of the previously selected sequence.

Without limitation, it is possible to the user, through an icon or a play button 120 to initiate the playback of the video sequence. Another icon or stop button 121 makes it possible to stop the playback, making a still picture or a pause at a specific moment. Another icon or button 122 makes it possible to advance, while still another 123 makes it possible to go back. It is also possible to perform a temporally increasing reading, but also decreasing in time, changing the direction of scrolling. An additional icon or button 124 can also make it possible to manage the speed of scrolling, by accelerating or decreasing it, to obtain a slow motion, which can be a frame-by-frame playback of the sequence. Finally, another icon or button 125, particularly in the form of a scroll bar, to select a specific moment of the video sequence, then to apply one and / or the other of the previous commands.

Thus, the user can revisit at will a specific moment of the event he attends, controlling the entire broadcast and looking at multiple angles of view corresponding to each sequence. In the example of a sporting event, such as a sports match between two teams, the user can then see and review an action in all its details. According to a particular embodiment, not shown, the interface 9 makes it possible to control the diffusion of the simultaneous viewing of two sequences. In sum, a second menu can be doubled in order to separately manage the control of the reading of each sequence, which is displayed at the same time on said screen 10. This feature allows the user to compare at the same time several angles of view.

Therefore, it is possible to synchronize the two sequences, so that their reading takes place from the same moment.

To do this, the invention consists in storing temporary each stream 3 within a buffer 14 of circular type, at the internal memory of said terminal 6. Such a buffer 14 is similar to a "buffer" circular or rotating, whose memory space is limited to a predefined size. In case of saturation of this memory space, the new data "hunt" the oldest data, including by overwriting the corresponding memory space.

In other words, the invention consists in eliminating continuously in time each stream 3 stored in said buffer memory 14 after a determined time interval with respect to a defined duration for each video sequence. Such a duration can in particular correspond to a size of each sequence, depending on the video format of its stream 3.

In particular, according to the preferred embodiment, said time interval may correspond to a duration of several minutes to several tens of minutes, in particular from 10 to 20 minutes.

Furthermore, the invention provides for limiting the retention time of the digital data transmitted and read at each terminal 6. This feature makes it possible to overcome the problems related to the management of broadcasting rights by proposing a technical solution which progressively suppresses the data received by each terminal 6, namely the video sequences.

Therefore, the replacement of the old data of each stream 3 by the arrival of the new data of the same stream 3 within said buffer memory 14 simulates a deletion operation 15, as schematized.

In addition, it is possible to envisage, at the end of the event at which the user 7 attends, to continue the transmission of streams 3, without content, over a given period of time and sufficient, so as to continue the overwriting and deleting any previous data, until the memory is empty of any content.

In addition, it is also possible to remotely control, by means of a specific signal, incorporated in one of said streams 3, stopping said software application and closing it, in order to completely empty the buffer memory 14, thus ensuring the destruction of the data that 'it contains .

According to a simplified embodiment, after a determined lapse of time, when closing said application, the voluntary or forced disconnection of the user 7, the buffer is emptied of any data it contains.

From the foregoing, the invention makes it possible to considerably reduce the quantities of data transmitted on said network 8, limiting the risks of saturation of the bandwidth. In addition, the management by the user 7 being performed locally at the terminal 6, no other tool or communication protocol is required, freeing a remote execution on a dedicated server.

Thus, the method according to the present invention allows a spectator to accurately review an elapsed moment of an event he attends, depending on the angle of view he wants.

Claims

A method of broadcasting streams (3) of digital data of at least video type, at events locally on site within a sports or cultural venue, for spectators, wherein:

a simultaneous and continuous capture of at least two distinct video sequences is carried out and they are converted progressively into at least two streams (3) of at least digital data of the video type;

said digital streams (3) are continuously and multipoint transmitted from at least one transmitting terminal (5) to at least two portable terminals (6) located at a distance, each terminal (6) being personal to a user ( 7) via a telecommunication network (8);

at each terminal (6), said flows (3) are received and an interface (9) for controlling their diffusion is displayed;

characterized by the fact that:

and by the fact that it consists of:

2. Broadcast method according to claim 1 characterized in that said time interval corresponds to a duration of 10 to 20 minutes.